Treatments for Gastroenteritis:

The first step in treating gastroenteritis is prevention. This includes preventing food poisoning by throwing out expired food or perishable food that has been in room temperature for two hours or longer. Prevention also includes protecting small children and not eating unknown or potentially poisonous plants and mushrooms.

Prevention of the spread of harmful viruses that cause viral gastroenteritis or microorganisms that cause food poisoning includes frequent hand washing, especially after using the bathroom and before eating. It is also important to avoid contact with a person who has infectious gastroenteritis.

Treatment plans for gastroenteritis are individualized depending on the underlying cause, the presence of coexisting diseases, the age and medical history of the patient, and other factors. Treatment generally involves a multifaceted plan that addresses the cause, minimizes the discomfort of vomiting and diarrhea decreases the risk of developing dehydration.

When gastroenteritis is caused by a self-limiting condition, such as a viral gastroenteritis or indigestion, the treatment includes resting the stomach by not eating solid foods until symptoms have passed for a period of time and ensuring adequate hydration. This can be achieved by drinking water or an oral rehydrating fluid, such as Pedialyte.

Treatment of severe gastroenteritis that does not resolve or leads to dehydration requires hospitalization and rehydration with intravenous fluids. People most at risk for dehydration include those with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or cancer, and infants, small children and the elderly.

Treatment List for Gastroenteritis

The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
for Gastroenteritis
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.

Treatment of gastroenteritis is dependant on the severity of symptoms, the age of the patient, coomorbidities (such as diabetes etc) and the likely causative organism

Treatments include:

Avoidance of dehydration and rehydration

Oral therapy - if vomiting and dehydration are not severe. Small amounts and often, ideally with and balanced electrolyte solutions, but other fluids can be used. Avoid high sugar drinks as this may worsen diarrhoea and dehydration.

Nasogastric therapy - in a hospital setting may be used to avoid intravenous therapy.

Intravenous therapy - where vomiting and/or dehydration are severe, or there is an altered level of consciousness or other coomorbidities.

Treatment of other symptoms

Pain and fever can be treated with paracetamol or ibuprofen

Anti-emetics - can be useful where vomiting is a predominant feature, but generally not recommended in children.

Antidiarrheals - traditionally avoided because of a theoretical risk of bacteremia, but probably have a role in symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate diarrhoea

Occasionally recommended for specific causes of gastroenteritis, but most cases are treated with supportive therapy only and will resolve with time

Hospitalisation. Recommended for:

The very young (<6 months) and the very elderly

Moderate to severe dehydration and ongoing losses

Those with other significant medical conditions

Altered level of consciousness

Refeeding

Early age appropriate refeeding is now recommended once vomiting is controlled and rehydration is complete

Use complex carbohydrates such as rice, potatoes, and bread; and lean meats

Delay in reintroduction of non-human milk has previously been recommended due to the risk of lactose intolerance, but there is an increasing body of evidence that suggests reintroduction of milk once tolerated, or even continuing milk during an acute illness, is not associated with increased adverse outcomes

Breastfeeding should continue as tolerated

Public Health measures and good hygiene

To avoid spread of disease

Gastroenteritis: Is the Diagnosis Correct?

The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Gastroenteritis may include:

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